India-Nepal Bilateral Trade gets Policymakers' Focus

Meeting of India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held on 28-29 June 2016 at New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Rita Teaotia, Commerce Secretary, Government of India while the Nepalese delegation was led by Mr. Naindra Prasad Upadhaya, Commerce Secretary, Government of Nepal.

The Committee reviewed the status of bilateral trade between the two countries. The issues raised in the last IGC meeting held on Dec 21-22, 2013 in Kathmandu were reviewed and it was noted that many of the issues have already been resolved while there was substantial progress on others. The Committee also discussed new issues pertaining to trade, transit, infrastructure and investments, and agreed to resolve bottlenecks to bolster bilateral trade. It was also agreed to work out modalities for constitution of a India-Nepal Joint Business Forum and enhance the scope of the IGC to discuss wider economic cooperation.